Feeder mechanism



June 4, 1968 v. BENATAR 3,386,558

FEEDER MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l mv: omVICTOR NATAPx ATTORNEY June 4, 1968 v. BENATAR 3,386,558

FEEDER MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 25, 1966 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1INVENTOR \/\CTOP\ BENATAPx ATTO RN EY June 4, 1968 v. BENATAR FEEDERMECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet .5

Original Filed Feb. 25, 1966 INVENTOB VICTOF\ DENATAFx ATTORNEY V.BENATAR FEEDER MECHANISM June 4, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original FiledFeb. 25, 1966 \NVE V )CTOR bENATAFK M ATTORNEY United States PatentABSTRACT OF THE DiSfiLOSURE A mechanism for feeding items such as carbonblanks from a hopper is of the rotary type and is provided with one ormore suction cups spaced about its periphery for sequentially engagingthe items to be fed. Each suction cup is manipulated while rotating bothin a radial and in an angular direction and its path of movementmomentarily arrested by means of a rotatable driving element which isinterconnected with an elongated driven element at one end thereof by apivotal connection, each suction cup being securely afiixed to andmovable with its driven element in such manner that each increment ofmovement of the driven element is imparted to the suction cup.Controlled angular, rotary and radial movement is imparted to the drivenelement and to the suction cup by means of a cam surface formed in afixed cam disposed adjacent the path of movement of the driven elementand in which a cam follower is arranged to ride, the cam follower beingaffixed to the driven element intermediate the ends thereof. Pneumaticsuction is applied to the suction cups sequentially, suction pressurebeing supplied to the suction cups by cooperating cavities one of whichis arranged with a pair of sub-chambers interconnected by a bleed portwhereby vacuum pressure is quickly restored following partial lossthereof to improper contact between a suction cup and its associatedblank during a feeding operation.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 530,151 filed Feb. 25,1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a feeder mechanism and more particularly to amechanism for withdrawing individual items such as carton blanks from ahopper and for then applying such items to a point of use. The inventionis particularly applicable to multiple packaging machines where cartonblanks are fed from a hopper structure downwardly into contact with andatop a group of articles to be packaged.

The speed of packaging machines and of other similar machines whereinindividual items are fed from a hopper normally is limited by the speedwith which the feeder mechanism can be made to operate. Many feedmechanisms currently in use incorporate reciprocating parts or springbiased cam followers and hence there is a definite limit to which suchmechanisms may be driven insofar as speed is concerned.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a feeder mechanism ofthe rotary type and to construct the feeder in a simplified form using aminimum of parts so that a single rotary unit may comprise a number ofindividual feeder linkages and in this way to increase the effectiverate of feed without driving the moving parts at excessively highvelocities.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple rotary typefeeder mechanism with means for smoothly and positively modifying thepath of travel of the moving parts and by so doing to enhance greatlythe reliability and adaptability of the mechanism for use with blankswhich are to be fed and which may be curved, warped, or characterized bysome other irregularity.

The invention in one form as applied to a feeder mechanism comprises arotatable driving element arranged to "ice move in a substantiallycircular path, an elongated driven element pivotally connected at oneend thereof with the driving element and arranged to change its angularposi tion with respect thereto, a fixed cam disposed adjacent to thedriven element and having a continuous cam surface, a cam followermounted on the driven element intermediate its ends and in engagementwith the cam surface, the cam surface being configured to impartcircular motion to the driven element during a portion of its travel andalso being constructed so as to impart movement to the driven elementwhich is in a radial direction relative to the circular portion of itspath of movement and which is angular relative to the driving element,the resultant radial movement being derived from the rotary motion ofthe driving element as modified by the special configuration of the camsurface and its effect on the peripheral and angular movement of thedriven element.

In order positively to capture and to guide the items fed from thehopper to a point of use, a pair of guide plates may be mounted onopposite sides of the feeder driving and driven elements and the fixedcam, and a conveyor system may be used to engage the items to be fedaccording to a modification of the invention.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to thefollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a side view of a feedermechanism constructed according to the invention; FIG. 2 is-an enlargedperspective view of the essential elements of the feeder mechanism asview from the opposite side of the machine from that depicted in FIG. 1;FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the structure depicted in FIG. 1;FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the continuous fixed cam whichconstitutes a feature of the invention and which is taken along the linedesignated 4-4 in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of the feedermechanism as seen along the line designated 5-5 in FIG. 3 and which viewbrings out the fact that a number of feeder linkages may be mounted on asingle shaft and may be controlled by a single cam surface; FIG. 6A is aview taken along the line designated 6A-6A in FIG. 3 and depicts a fixedportion of the vacuum control system; FIG. 6B is a view of a rotatablepart of the vacuum control system and is taken along the line designatedB-tiB in FIG. 3; FIG. 7 is an enlarged partially cut-away perspectiveView of portions of the feeder mechanism showing the interrelationshipbetween the fixed cam and its associated mounting surface; FIG. 8 is aschematic diagram showing the essental elements of the invention andtheir interrelation with each other whereby a gradual accelerationradially outwardly of a suction cup is effected prior to engagementbetween the suction cup and the lowermost carton blank followedimmediately by a sudden, abrupt and radial withdrawal inwardly of thesuction cup and associated parts of the mechanism; FIG. 9 is a side viewsimilar to FIG. 1 and showing the modification of the invention as shownin FIG. 1 wherein a conveyor and guides may be used if desired; FIG. 10is a view generally similar to FIG. 3 and taken along the linedesignated 19-10 in FIG. 9; and in which FIG. 11 is a detailed enlargedview taken along the line designated 11-11 in FIG. 9.

With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 designates an upright channelframe support having flanges 2 on which the mechanism is mounted. Ahopper structure generally designated by the numeral 3 is disposedimmediately adjacent the feeder mechanismwhich is generally designatedby the numeral 4. Carton blanks generally designated by the numeral 5are disposed within the hopper 3. Disposed below the mechanism 4 on aconveyor belt schematically designated at 6 are several groups of itemsto be packaged such as are designated generally at 7 and 8. Thus, thefeeder mechanism 4 withdraws a particular carton 3 blank from the groupof cartons designated at 5 and deposits the blank atop a group ofarticles to be packaged such as are designated at 7, the articlesconstituting one or a plurality of primary packages or cans such as aredesignated by the letter C.

Since a feeder mechanism according to this invention utilizes rotatingas well as fixed parts, an adjustable bracing element 9 isinterconnected at its upper end with a fixed horizontal bar 10 mountedatop suitable structural support elements 11 mounted on and forming apart of the top of the hopper 3. The bracing bar 9 is interconnected atits lower end with a fixed pin 12 on cam 13 and effectively serves tohold the cam structure 13 in fixed position.

The right hand carton blank 5 at its lower edge engages detent 3A and atits upper edge rests against cross bar 33.

The withdrawal of carton blanks 5 from hopper 3 preferably is effectedby suction cups mounted on the feeder mechanism and which engage theblank near the detent 3A. Withdrawal of the suction cup forces the blankover dctent 3A and under bar 33. Control of vacuum pressure to theindividual suction cups is effected by a pneumatic mechanism some partsof which are rotatable and some parts of which are fixed. Thus, theadjustable bracing bar 14 is affixed at its upper end to the horizontalslructural member 10 and at its lower end is secured with a fixed pin 52to a fixed part 15 of the pneumafic control system so as to hold thatpart in fixed position and thereby to effect proper timing of suctionpressure as may be required.

One important advantage of the invention is that a feeder mechanismconstructed according to the invention is adaptable for use with one ormore individual driven elements and associated suction cups. Thearrangement depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 incorporates three suction cupsarranged radially about the drive shaft 16 in sym metrical fashion.Thus, the length of a carton times the number of driven elements canapproximate the circumference of the circle described by the suctioncups.

One feeder mechanism is shown in perspective in FIG. 2 and comprises arotatable driving element which includes the shaft 16 having suitablehub structure 17 and a radially arranged rotatable arm 1% which isfixedly secured to and rotatable with the shaft 16. Another essentialelement of the invention comprises an elongated driven elementdesignated generally in FIG. 2 by the numeral 19. This driven element 19is pivotally connecfed at 20 to the outer extremity of the arm 13forming a part of the driving element of the invention. Elonga ed drivenelement 19 is provided intermediate its ends with a cam follower 21rotatably mounted on a pin 22 secured to the driven element 19. Anotheressential element of the invention comprises the fixed cam 13 best shownin FIGS. 3 and 4. Fixed cam 13 incorporates a continuous enclosed camsurface best shown in FIG. 4 and designated by the numeral 24'. The camfollower 21 is arranged to ride in the groove formed in fixed cam 23 anddesignated herein as the cam surface 24.

From the description thus far, it is apparent that totation of shaft 16and of radially disposed arm 18 at a constant speed results in motion ofpivot pin 29 in a substantially circular path. Since the cam follower 21is compolled to ride in the groove designated as the cam surface 2 it isapparent that the resulting motion of the end of the driven element 19which is remote from the pivot pin 20 and which is designated by thenumeral 25' constitutes a composite motion whereby the angulardisposition of the driven element relative to the driving element ischanged as well as the peripheral velocity of the end 25 of the drivenelement.

As is apparent from FIG. 8, the roller 21 rides along the thrust portion26 of the cam surface 24- during the travel of the suction cup 237 outof its circular path generally designated at 28 and toward the hopper 3while the driven element 19 approaches but does not quite arrive at aposition of normal relationship to the thrust portion 25 of the camsurface 24. Thus, the travel of the suction cup 27 along the pathdesignated at 29 is gradually outward in a generally radial directionthus insuring a smooth approach of the suction cup toward and intoengagement with the lowermost carton mounted in the hopper 3. After thecam follower 21 rolls off of the thrust portion 26 of the cam surface 24and into the withdrawal portion 3%, i.e. beyond the intersection 31, theelongated driven element 19 is disposed approximately parallel withrespect to the Withdrawal surface 30. At this instant the radial arm T8is approximately normal to the portion of the driven element defined bya line drawn through points '23 and 22 and is thus disposed to imparthigh speed Withdrawal movement to the cup 27. Stated otherwise, thedriven element 19 is generally tangent to the circle inscribed by point20 as the withdrawal movement ta :es place. As a result, the suction cup27 is suddenly and quickly withdrawn toward the right as viewed in EEG.8 along the path of travel designated by the numeral 32. in this manner,a positive, abrupt and quick separation of the lowermost carton blankfrom the hopper 3 is effected in accordance with an important feature ofthe invention and is possible in part because the cam surface 24 isfully enclosed and affords full and positive control in all directions.

In order to render the feeder mechanism adaptable for differentapplications of the invention, the arm 27A on which suction cup 27 ismounted is adjustable relative to end 25 of driven element 19 by meansof a set screw 25A as is apparent from FIG. 2.

Of course the carton blank is thereafter deposiled atop a package groupsuch as '7 as depicted generally in FIG. 1.

In order to cause the suction cup 27 to grip and subsequently to releasethe lowermost carton blank, a pneumatic system is employed. Thus, as isshown in FIGS. 6A and 6B vacuum is supplied from a source 34 throughconduit 33 to cavity 37 in fixed valve element As rotating valve element35 changes its angular relationship to fixed valve element 35, vacuum issupplied to suction cup 27 through conduit 38 when cavity 39 in valveelement 36 registers with cavity 37 in valve element 35. In FIG. 63 onlyone part 39 is shown. It will be understood that a plurality of suchparts may be employed if desired.

As is shown in FIG. 6A. the cavity 37 is made up of two subchambers 37Aand 37B interconnected by a bleed port 37C. The total accurate length ofthe two subchambers 37A and 3723 is determined by the time driving whichsuction must be applied to a cup 27. if a cup 27 fails to maintainsecure contact with a particular blank, the vacuum pressure in cup 27,line 3% and chamber 37 will tend to be lost. This condition is quicklycorrected however due to the fact that cavity 39 soon loses contact withsubcham'ber 37A and the high capacity vacuum source 34 is effective toquickly restore low pressure in subchamber 37A so that the nextregistration of a cavity such as 39 with subchamber 37A is effective toestablish vacuum in the associated cup 27. When a cavity 39 registerswith subchamber 37B following a loss of vacuum, atmosphere air will tendto fiow into cavity 37B. This is not deleterious however because port37C is of such size as to allow adequate vacuum to be restored insubchamber 37A during registry of the leaking cavity 39 with subchamber37B. Thus, a succeeding cavity 39 may register with cavity 37A andadequate vacuum is present and vacuum is thus quickly restored insu'bchamber 373 through bleed port 37C, the preceding leaking cavity 39having moved out of registry with subchamber 37B. Ordinarily, bleed port37C should be substantially smaller in cross sectional area than thecross sectional area of line 33.

The vacuum in cup 27 is released when cavity 3? is in registration withcavity 53 which is exposed to atmosphere.

From the description above, it will be understood that a feedermechanism constructed according to this invention, is characterized by ahigh degree of smoothness since it is of a rotary type. Furthermore, itwill be understood that the mechanism is adapted for use with one orwith a plurality of suction cups and may thus operate at high capacityalthough the rotational speed required is of a low or medium order ofmagnitude.

Furthermore, if larger cartons are being run, a similar structure tothat disclosed in FIG. 7 maybe mounted alongside the unit as shown forexample in FIG. 10 so that in effect two feeders are operated off of thesame shaft such as for example as shaft 16.

The modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 is similarto that described above. In addition, the arrangement of FIGS. 9llincorporates a pair of guides and 41 which are fixed in position andwhich are disposed outwardly relative to guides 42 and 43 which also arefixed in position.

In order positively to advance the blanks, a pair of continuous chains44 and 45 are provided with lug hooks 46 and 47. Chains 44 and 45 aremounted on sprockets 48 and 49. Sprockets 48 are affixed to shaft 16 andthus are driver elements for chains 44 and 45. When the suction cup 27once engages the carton 5 and withdraws it from the hopper 3, thesuction cup continues to pull the leading edge of the carton 5 in arotary direction until the carton 5 is completely captured by the guides40-43 by chain 45 and by lug 47 as shown in FIG. 11. Once the carton 5is captured, the vacuum is exhausted from suction cup 27 and the lugcontinues to push the carton 5 forward to obtain perfect registrationwith the product C. In this manner, even warped cartons may be handledby this system for the carton never is allowed to get out of control.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that the invention is not limitedthereto and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope ofthe invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A mechanism for feeding an item from a hopper, said mechanismcomprising a rotatable driving element arranged to move in asubstantially circular path, an elongated driven element pivotallyinterconnected at one end thereof with said driving element and arrangedto change position bodily with respect thereto, an item engaging andfeeding element fixedly mounted on and movable with said driven elementin such manner that movement of said driven element causes identicalangular, rotary, and radial movement of said item engaging element, aunitary cam fixed in position adjacent said driven element and having acontinuous cam surface, a cam follower fixedly mounted on and movablewith said driven element intermediate the ends thereof and in engagementwith said cam surface, said cam surface having a portion which isgenerally circular and a portion which protrudes radially outward fromthe circular portion whereby the angular and radial disposition of saiddriven element and of said item engaging element relative to saiddriving element is changed as well as the peripheral velocity of saiditem engaging element entirely as a result of rotation of said drivingelement and the action of said cam and cam follower.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said portion of said camsurface which protrudes radially outward comprises a withdrawal surfacewhich is generally parallel to the portion of said driven elementbetween said cam follower and its point of connection with said drivingelement so as to impart feeding movement to said item engaging elementin a direction radially inward relative to the circular path of movementof said driving element whereby positive and rapid controlled angularmovement is imparted to said item engaging element relative to saiddriving element simultaneously with a substantial reduction in theperipheral velocity of said part of said driven element.

3. A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element arranged tomove in a substantially circular path, an elongated driven elementinterconnected at one end thereof with said driving element and arrangedto change position with respect thereto, a unitary cam fixed in position adjacent said driven element and having a continuous cam surface, acam follower mounted on said driven element intermediate the endsthereof and in engagement with said cam surface, said cam surface havinga portion which is generally circular and a portion which protrudesradially outward from the circular portion whereby the angulardisposition of said driven element relative to said driving element ischanged as well as the peripheral velocity of the end thereof remotefrom said driving element, pneumatic means for engaging items to be fed,and a pair of relatively movable valve elements having cooperatingcavities formed therein which register intermittently, one cavity beingconstructed with two subchambers interconnected by a bleed port.

4. A feeder mechanism comprising a rotatable driving element, a drivenelement interconnected with said driving element and arranged to changeposition with respect thereto, a cam fixed in position adjacent saiddriven element and having a cam surface, a cam follower mounted on saiddriven element and disposed to engage said cam surface, a suction cupmounted on said driven element, means including a low pressure sourceand a pair of relatively movable valve elements for intermittentlysupplying suction pressure to said suction cup, and cooperating cavitiesformed in said valve elements respectively, one of said cavities beingarranged with a pair of sub-chambers interconnected by a bleed port.

5. A feeder mechanism comprising pneumatic means for engaging and movingitems to be fed, a source of pressure less than atmospheric pressure anda pair of relatively movable valve elements interconnecting saidpneumatic means and said source and having cooperating cavities formedtherein which register intermittently, one cavity being constructed withtwo sub-chambers interconnected by a bleed port.

6. A feeder mechanism comprising a suction cup movable into engagementwith an item to be: fed and arranged to impart desired movement thereto,means including a low pressure source and a pair of relatively movablevalve elements for intermittently supplying suction pressure to saidsuction cup, and cooperating cavities formed in said valve elementsrespectively, one of said cavities being arranged with a pair ofsub-chambers interconnected by a bleed port.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,915,308 12/1959 Matzen 271-271,654,091 12/1927 Peiler 198-25 RICHARD E. AEGERTER, Primary Examiner.

